Leather-working machine



F. W. TUCKER.

LEATHER WORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1918.

1,340,262. Patented May 18, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1. 2

f M N w I \nventov.

w FrcxhK W.TucKeT by MSWIQS'M Attvs.

UNITED STATES PATENT FRANK W. TUCKER, LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANCIS A. SHEA, OF

I BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LEATHER-WORKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Application filed September 3, 1918. Serial No. 252,351.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Leather-Working Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to a machine for working and stretching hides and it has for its objects to provide a novel machine by which hides can be worked expeditiously and in such a manner as not to injure the hide in any way, to provide a machine in which a plurality of hides can ;be worked simultaneously, and otherwise to improve machines of this type all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of my invention I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows in side view a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 Fig. 1.

The machine comprises means for supporting a hide in a stretched condition, a plurality of working elements adapted to bear against the hide on both sides thereof at various points and means to move the hide in its own plane.

The various working elements are so disposed that the hide will .be bent slightly over each element and as a result when the hide is moved in a direction of its own plane the elements act on different portions 7 of the hide.

The hide to be worked is shown at 1 and it is supported in a stretched or-taut condition on a rectangular frame 2, the edges of h hide being connected to the frame by suitable connections 3.'

The frame 2 with the hide 1 stretched therein is placed between two sets of working elements shown generally at 4, said elements being arranged to bear against the hide on both sides thereof, and the stretching and softening process is carried out by giving the hide and the working elements a relative movement in the plane of the hide.

I will preferably move the hide in its own plane thereby causing the working element a to have a rubbing action on the hide.

These working elements 4 may have any suitable shape. In the construction shown they each have a rounded exterior surface 5 which is adapted to bear against the hide. Said working elements are also preferably supported so that they can be moved toward and from the hide, thereby to cause them to bear against the hide with greater or less force. i I

In the preferred embodiment of my invention each working element 4 has two links 6 and 7 pivotally connected thereto, each link 7 being pivotally connected to a post 8 and each link (3 being pivotally connected to a slide or bar 9 carried by said post but adjustable vertically thereon. This bar can be held in its adjusted position by means of clamping screws 10. When the bar 9 is moved vertically each pair of links 6 and 7 will be moved toward or from each other, thereby causing the working elements 5 .to move in a lateral direction' There is thus one vertical row of working elements 5 for each post 8 and I may use a plurality of posts 8 each with its set of working elements 5 on each side of the hide.

When the hide is in place, then the bars 9 may be adjusted downwardly, thereby moving the working elements toward the hide until they engage the latter with more or less pressure and when the working ele: ments on both sides of the hide have been thus adjusted the hide will have a more .or less sinuous shape due to the pressure of the working elements thereagainst. The hide is then given a rotary movement in its own :plane with the result that the working elements operate on all parts of the hide to stretch and soften the latter.

This rotary motion may be given to the hide in any suitable way. I have herein shown' the frame 2 as being secured reparallel crank shafts 11 that extendin a"direc tion at right angles to the plane of the frame and hide. These crank shafts may be conveniently journaled in bearings 12 carried by the posts 8 and the crank portion 13 of each crank shaft has a holder or clamping device 14 thereon in which the lower edge of the frame 2 may be received. The upper edge of the frame is received in suitable clamping devices 15 carried by the cranked portions 16 of crank shafts 17 which are parallel to the shafts 11.

The shafts 11 may be rotated from any suitable source of power as by means of a driving pulley l7 and the rotation of the shafts will give rotary movement to the hide in the direction of its own plane, thus causing the working elements 1 to act thereon and perform their function.

My improved machine as herein illustrated is adapted for working a plurality of hides simultaneously and I provide for this by making the machine with a plurality of transverse rows of posts 8, each post having working elements 4 on both sides thereof. Where this construction is employed the crank shaft 11 will have a cranked portion 13 between each two adjacent transverse rows of posts so that a frame 2 with a hide 1 stretched thereon can be placed between each two adjacent transverse rows. Where this construction is employed each bar 9 on each post will have two sets of links 6 pivoted thereto, one set eing situated on each side of the post.

I have also provided means for delivering a drying current of air against each hide as it is being worked. The provision V of such means enables me to place a wet hide in the machine and to perform the working and drying operation at the same time.

Any suitable device for thus delivering the drying current of air against the hide may be employed. I have herein shown a pump 19 on each post, the piston of which is provided with a' piston rod 20, that is connected to the crank 16 by means of a connection 21. The operation of the crank will thus reciprocate the piston of the pump. The pump is provided with suitable air inlet ports and an outlet port connected to a pipe 22 having a plurality of jet nozzles arranged to deliver air jets against the hide, such air jets producing a drying action on the hide. I will preferably heat the air that is thus delivered against the hide and this can conveniently be done by heating the cylinder by means of an electric heating coil 24 the latter being connected to a circuit 2-3 by which it is supplied with the requisite current.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of my invention herein disclosed is illustrative and. not restrictive.

the frame with the hide supported thereby a movement in the plane of the hide.

2. In a leather-working machine the combination with a frame for holding a hide in stretched condition, of a plurality of working elements having engagement with each side of the hide, and means to give the frame with the hide supported thereby a rotative movement in the plane of the hide.

3. In a leather-working machine the combination with a frame for holding a hide in stretched condition, of a plurality of working elements having engagement with each side of the hide, means to give the frame with the hide supported thereby a movement in the plane of the hide and means to adjust the working elements toward and from the hide so that they bear against said hide with greater or less pressure during such movement of the frame.

4. In a leather-working machine the combination with a frame for holding a hide in stretched condition of a plurality of working elements having engagement with each side of the hide, means to give the frame and the hide supported thereby a movement in the plane of the hide, the elements on one side of the hide having a staggered relation with those on the other side.

5. In a machine for treating hides, the combination with a frame for holding a hide in stretched condition, of means to give the frame and the hide supported thereby a movement in the plane of the hide, and stationary working elements having engagement with each side of the hide during the movement of the frame.

6. In a machine for treating leather, the combination with a frame for holding a hide in stretched condition, of means to give the frame a rotative movement in the plane of the hide, and a plurality of stationary working elements having engagement with each side of the hide during such movement of the frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK W. TUCKER. 

